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By APetite1 — May 8, 2018

When I was 8, I would find myself in a peculiar but fateful point in my life when I would enter into the Arkansas Foster Care system through child endangerment and neglect. Fortunately, my mother complied with the requirements in order to end our... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By APetite1 — May 8, 2018

Often the world we live in is something that no one would expect for it to be. When we are born we do not get a choice as to who are parents are or the class we're born into. While some explain family to be happy, cheerful and constantly giving... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By APetite1 — May 8, 2018

I like to tell myself, that not everyone gets their traditional story. My parents weren’t fit to be parents or even to be part of the public eye at that point. When I was in 5th and 6th grade, I just had my first boyfriend and saw what his family... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By FCJessica — Apr 29, 2016

Veda's Story At a very young age, about six months old, I was removed from my parents care and placed in the foster care system. It took months for my caseworker to get in contact with my maternal grandmother. By the age of two, my grandmother was... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By FCJessica — Apr 29, 2016

Isaiah's Story I am the oldest of five and grew up with a single mother. Because of this, I took on many responsibilities to help my mother support my siblings. Some would have said I played a parent role by ensuring my siblings did their chores and... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By FCJessica — Apr 29, 2016

Mark's Story They say your childhood is supposed to be the most joyful time of your life. My childhood was dark, full of pain, and traumatizing. Growing up, my mother suffered from a mental illness. My stepfather was physically and emotionally... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By FCJessica — Apr 29, 2016

Tristan's Story Advocating for myself was the most difficult part of being in the foster care system, but it’s also a vital skill to learn. Before entering the system, I had suffered plenty of abuse for being a trans man who dared... Read more

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LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By jacoblear — Apr 14, 2015

It’s no secret that growing up in foster care can be challenging. In my case, those challenges were intensified by the fact that I’m a bi-racial lesbian. Finding a place where I felt I belonged was difficult. I often imagined... Read more

Tagged:
LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By jacoblear — Apr 6, 2015

Kristopher's Story Kristopher entered the Texas foster care system at the age of 10. He was removed from his family of origin after his 5th grade teacher noticed significant bruising on his torso and face. Separated from his two siblings, ... Read more

Tagged:
LGBTQ youth
Real Stories
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By FCJessica — Apr 6, 2015

Trying to fit in Hello, my name is Ernesto. I’m 24 years of age, and I am a gay man who was in foster care for six years. In 2003, my little brother and I were put into the foster care system and placed in a shelter - I was 13 years old. I was... Read more

Tagged:
LGBTQ youth